© 2024 Wyoming Public Media
800-729-5897 | 307-766-4240
Wyoming Public Media is a service of the University of Wyoming
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Transmission & Streaming Disruptions

Archives On The Air 76: Wind And Mayhem—Verna Endicott papers

It only takes one visit to Wyoming to know how intense the wind can be.

One famous case of Wyoming wind comes from the Verna Endicott papers. Her memory starts with the arrival of the circus in Cheyenne on July 13, 1912.

The circus had everything: tigers, lions, elephants, clowns, and circus food. On that stormy summer day, the circus also had a large underprepared tent and a lot of people inside.

Verna’s mother was slow to get ready. Verna’s brother had gone early to help set up the circus. Suddenly he burst through the door and said a tragedy had happened.

“the wind and rain had collapsed the tents, trapping people and animals in a tangle of canvas and poles.”

The Aberdeen Daily News reported that 1,500 people were pinned beneath the tent causing many injuries, but no deaths.

For more stories about early Cheyenne visit UW’s American Heritage Center.